SYNOPSICS
Russian Lessons (2010) is a Russian,Georgian movie. Olga Konskaya,Andrey Nekrasov has directed this movie. Vissarion Apliaa,Valery Gergiev,Olga Konskaya,Marat Kulakhmetov are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2010. Russian Lessons (2010) is considered one of the best Documentary movie in India and around the world.
The film starts as a journey by the two directors-protagonists. Olga and Andrei, on the two sides of the frontline during the Russian-Georgian was in August 2008. A film on such a hot political (and geopolitical) subject first of all establishes emotional contact with the audience by depicting human drama, before coming up with political conclusions. They emerge naturally and powerfully as overwhelming evidence of Russian imperialist plot shows through the Russian media smokescreen as well as mistakes and naivety of the Georgians. The filmmakers return to their St. Petersburg studio loaded with unique footage and evidence which they analyze in the process of film-editing. This process is intertwined in the film's narrative and the viewer gets a sense of partaking in it. In this way the filmmakers are able to come to forceful conclusions without slipping into propaganda and prejudice that charachterize too many films about the August war. Importantly the film puts the recent war in ...
Russian Lessons (2010) Trailers
Russian Lessons (2010) Reviews
this documentary was disturbing for the right reasons
My review after seeing this film at Sundance 2010: This film was truly profound. It represents a kind of investigative journalism I've never before witnessed. It was moving, disturbing, eye- opening, compelling, gripping... the list of descriptive desirables appropriate for this film goes on. It is a long film, but it does a monumental kind of work. It's an anti-propaganda propaganda film that is worth everyone's time. I can't say enough about this documentary - it's very easily the best of the eight sundance films i've seen this year. In terms of its effects on me personally, it is on par with Schindler's List. There are very few movies out there that I can say either (1) changed the way I will watch every movie for the rest of my life, and (2) changed the way that I see the world. Russian Lessons has done both in one go.
An extremely important and courageous film
Like one of the other reviewers, I can't say enough to describe the film's brilliance and it's effect on me. I disagree that a "call to arms" is missing from the film. It is investigative journalism, information. Of course it's subjective too. How can any film not be subjective to some extent? But that's what I believe to be the aim of this film: to inform us of the truth that was hidden from us by Russian propaganda, by Western laziness and economic interests. It is then up to us, viewers, citizens of the world, to decide what we do with this complex web of information, how we act. I applaud the filmmakers' efforts, courage, their unrelenting belief in the right thing to do. I hope that more and more Russians and citizens of the western world are ready to watch this film: To face the truth about these incidents and their implications. To learn these lessons.
did Russian tank really bombed beslan school?
it's totally shocked me even i had believed that i know a lot about the conflict between Russia and Georgia. including early and recent war between Georgia and Abkhazia and south Ossetia. especially those new saying about Beslan school accident. i should create a chance to ask my doubt to director.cause i worried about the truth from the documentary may not the real truth. it's so easy to make a documentary become propaganda in the news world today. Putin and Russian main media can made it, why not Georgian can't made it? so before everything clear, i just give it 7 point
Misleading and incomplete information
The movie contains some unique glimpses in the conflict between Russia and Georgia. The personal approach is very strong, you can easily get into the shoes of the local people. What I really miss is a whole and complete story of a conflict, where not only Georgians and Russians were involved. What about the view of the Abkhazians, or the Osetinians? The information presented is very little and makes it easy for the director to guide the audience in his own point of view. Which in my humble opinion could be misleading. What could be improved: more historical info on the people and ethnic groups who lived in the area, how did the communities settle and grow; info on the links between Georgian and US military forces; the oil and gas pipelines that Russia did not want to see in Georgia. Its best to read additionally on the internet to get a more comprehensive view.
Thought Provoking
This film does a great job of showing the Russian/Georgian conflict and the devastating toll this took on the people of Georgia. Unfortunately it was an intellectual journey for me rather than an emotional one. The fact that one of the parties to the conflict lied was not news. The fact that it was the invading party that lied wasn't news. This has been the pattern throughout the history of humankind. I was waiting for the call to arms. The reason why this conflict, these people, this story should be important to me. I think the issue is that the only protagonist are the filmmakers themselves while everyone else in the film comes and goes with little chance for the audience to establish a lasting emotional connection. The film also goes from saying that the Russians lied to the rest of the world lied. The BBC lied when they rebroadcast the Russian point of view. I found this extension of blame tenuous and without a call to arms it left me with the feeling that I was the next to be blamed. This is a well made documentary about an important subject and worthy of anyone's time but unlike my fellow reviewer I do not see this as a great documentary.